Liturgy Resource
Pastoral Aid - 1st Sunday in Advent 2018
Pastoral Aid - 1st Sunday in Advent 2018
Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, A Pastoral Letter Against Racism
Includes reflections on Sunday's readings, homily notes, bulletin announcements, parish activity suggestions, and prayers of the faithful.
The Catholic bishops of the United States have just released a long-anticipated pastoral letter against racism, which is an invitation for hopeful and prayerful action against the sin of racism. Called Open Wide Our Hearts: The Enduring Call to Love, it challenges us all to do just that: open our hearts to God’s transforming grace so we can transcend divisions and become one, as Christ’s body is one.
Advent is the season of joyful waiting in hope. In this way, the readings this week present a particular opportunity to connect the new pastoral letter to the Scripture readings’ call for action. Consider addressing one or more of the following ideas in your homily. Connecting the pastoral letter to real experiences in your parish or community at the start of the homily will help to drive the message home.